The Best Baby Walkers 2018

Just before your baby starts to cruise, you’ll notice that they start trying to climb up onto their feet a lot more frequently – using nearby furniture, toys or even unsuspecting pets to pull themselves into a standing position.

Baby Walkers are designed to encourage this behavior, and motivate your baby to take their very first steps. The right model can help your baby to develop key muscle groups that are needed to support proper locomotion, and a good walker will also help to get your little one used to the idea of balancing on their own two feet.

Baby walkers generally come in one of two distinct types: Traditional, sit to stand walkers or the more modern, seat-inclusive design. There are pros and cons to each, but both different styles are equally capable of providing babies with the support that they need to explore at their own pace.

Using either type of walker, your little one can start cruising whenever they want, long before they are capable of balancing properly, and there’s much less risk of them falling down if they do run out of energy as well. This means that they are free to work on their strength and coordination in a safe and stress-free environment.

Walkers are entertaining too. In fact, a great many baby walkers are designed with entertainment in mind, and provide your child with an array of fun and engaging toys. These extra features help to reward your little one’s efforts, and stimulate their imagination. They also help to keep your child up on their feet for the longest possible amount of time which is crucial if they’re going to develop the coordination and muscle mass that’s needed to walk.

Choosing the perfect baby walker isn’t easy though: There are a huge variety of different models on today’s market, and finding one that will perfectly match your little one’s needs is no easy feat.

To help you find a walker that ticks all of the boxes, we’ve put together this buying guide which provides some top tips on what to look for when choosing your very first walker, and profiles the following products:

Buying Guide

To help you pick the right walker for your child, this guide breaks down the different types available on today’s market, and discusses the different things that you’ll need to bear in mind when examining a model – from maneuverability right through to ease of construction. Because we understand that you’ll want to focus on your child’s safety, well being and comfort, we’ve analyzed and reviewed our products with these things in mind.

What Type of Baby Walker is Best for My Baby?

When picking a walker, the first thing that you’ll need to decide is whether you want a traditional ‘sit to stand’ walker, or one of the more modern designs. Traditional walkers are generally four-wheeled, with a long base, and have a simple bar that your baby can use to pull themselves up. They provide a good blend of balance and mobility, but they also lack a lot of modern safety features and won’t stop your child from falling down.

Modern walkers are a different beast altogether. These walkers suspend your baby above the ground so that they can choose to walk or sit as their mood dictates. They are normally comprised of a padded seat, suspended on a number of wheeled legs, and are generally much safer due to the inclusion of features like anti-slip feet, locking wheels and extra-wide bases.

Note: We would never recommend leaving a baby totally unsupervised for any length of time. That said, modern walkers with trustworthy and reliable safety features do allow for slightly less stringent supervision, and it’s normally perfectly fine to leave your baby in a sit to stand walker while doing simple routine tasks in the same room

There is some evidence to suggest that traditional walkers are actually better for your baby’s development, not least because they allow babies to see their limbs moving. This provides much-needed visual feedback and, as this study shows, visual feedback plays a really big part in the development of fine motor skills.

These considerations have to be weighed up against the reduced safety though, and the increased supervision that’s required. You’ll also need to consider how much support your child needs, as modern designs are suitable from a much earlier age, and there’s no getting around the fact that the more traditional designs do require slightly more in the way of pre-existing coordination and balance.

Above all, it’s very important that you choose a baby walker that’s safe and comfortable for your child. In the past, pediatricians have advised new parents to avoid baby walkers due to fears around the quality of support that they offer young children, and while modern products are designed with safety in mind, you will still need to ensure that you’re only picking walkers that are suitable for your little one’s needs.

This means avoiding traditional walkers if they are younger than six months old, and transitioning them away from more modern, seat-inclusive designs if they are beginning to outgrow the intended age limit.

What to Look for in A Baby Walker

Aside from the concerns around health and safety highlighted above, it’s also important to examine the following factors when choosing your first baby walker:

Ease of Assembly

Since most baby walkers come flat-packed, it’s important to pick a model that you won’t struggle to assemble. This may seem like a low-priority concern but there’s nothing worse than sitting there looking at a half-assembled walker while your child is struggling to get up on their feet, and you’ll also want to be 100% sure that your walker is safe for your baby to use.

Unless you are a whizz with a screwdriver, we’d always recommend looking for models that are easy to put together. This includes models that use some sort of ‘snap to fit’ mechanism when connecting weight-bearing parts, or models that come partially assembled in the box so that you don’t have to worry about whether you’ve tightened things properly before your first play session.

Ease of Use

It also goes without saying that you’ll want a walker that’s easy to use. In particular, you’ll need to make sure that it’s easy for you to get your child into the walker (if using a sit to stand design) and that it’s equally easy to get them out when playtime is over.

Taking a longer-term view, it’s also worth considering how important things like adjustable height functionality will be for you – many parents use modern walkers for babies between 2 and 8 months old. Given the speed with which babies grow, a walker intended for use over this kind of time span would need to be fully adjustable if it was to work as intended. Unfortunately, some walkers only have a few, fairly limited height presets or, worse, are actually fixed at one height which means that they’ll only work while your baby is exactly the right size.

It’s also worth considering how easy such functionality is to use. Many modern walkers can be adjusted quite quickly, while others require full disassembly and the additional time involved in such a task may well be enough to put some parents off.

Mobility

It’s also very important that your baby can get around in their new walker: Familiarisation with the idea of walking is one of the key advantages to using a baby walker, and there’s nothing worse than a walker that actually restricts your child’s ability to explore.

Unfortunately, some designs have very poor maneuverability, don’t turn corners well, or are generally just too heavy for easy cruising. This can frustrate your child and discourage them from trying to walk, so selecting a model that’s free of these all-too-common pain points is very important if you’re looking to encourage proper development.

Comfort

Comfort is particularly important where modern walkers are concerned; if you intend to use a walker like this, chances are that your child will be spending a fair amount of time suspended on a padded seat.

To prevent your baby from becoming uncomfortable and distressed, you’ll need to make sure that you select a walker that provides adequate cushioning in the right places. You’ll also need to make sure that the seat is fully adjustable, so that it’s still comfortable after a few months of growth and development.

Extra Features

As mentioned earlier in this article, a great many baby walkers are now designed to include play trays, puzzles, games and other interactive activities designed to keep your baby on their feet.

Many of these puzzles add a great layer of extra complexity to an otherwise simple toy, and can help to keep your baby entertained. That said, a great many babies will ignore additional features in favor of careening about on their own two feet, so you’ll need to weigh up the importance of extra features when picking your first walker, and think about how relevant they will be to your child.

Making sure that your little one doesn’t struggle with any included activities or toys is also very important. Pay attention to the level of difficulty that these features present, as your child may well lose interest if they’re too challenging, and it’s important that these elements are able to properly engage and distract your little one. It’s also important that you make sure the activities have no loose parts too, as some can present a choking hazard to young babies.

Designed with utility in mind, this beautiful walker doubles up as a high-chair. Alongside all of the mod-cons you’d expect from a modern baby walker, it boasts a super wide, dishwasher-safe tray that can be used during meal times.

Beyond the high chair functionality, we really like a few key things about this walker – firstly, its supersized base makes it incredibly stable – which means you never have to worry about your little one tipping it over as they roll around. Secondly, the safety features, including non-slip stair pads and oversized wheels are also top notch, and finally, the quality of construction is, in our opinion, unparalleled. Everything fits together perfectly, the seat is made from heavy duty, machine washable fabric and the main body is constructed using very attractive, white gloss materials wherever possible.

The only downside is that this model does place form above function in some respects: There are no toys or activities, and, more importantly, there are only three, unchangeable height settings, which means that this walker might not always be able to accommodate your child as they grow.

Boasting a bright and colorful ocean design that’s sure to capture the imagination of most small children, this walker is a robust choice for anyone that’s prioritizing fun. Among other things, we are particularly fond of the fact that this walker features a fully removable toy tray, and special loops for attaching other toys – should the provided, sea-themed lights and sounds become too repetitive.

It functions well too: By all accounts, the frame is sturdy, the assembly is a breeze and the design is basically fool-proof. It’s probably also worth mentioning the special high-backed seat, which provides a lot of additional support, and ensures that your baby will sit comfortably while learning to cruise in this walker.

The only downsides are the lack of anti-slip safety features, and the fact that only the front two wheels turn. This can make maneuvering difficult for very young babies, as it does increase the strength requirement.

Another colorful and vibrant baby walker, Safety 1st’s offering is dino-themed, and boasts a tray full of five interactive toys.These toys are really what sets this walker apart – they light up, make noises, and also provide your little one with a variety of interactive elements – from crinkly palm trees to spinning mirrors. They’re great for developing fine motor skills, and they promise hours of enjoyment too.

Beyond the activity tray, there are also some really impressive design elements to be found here – unlike a great many walkers, this model features anti-slip stair pads and the whole unit is built from durable, hard plastics and metals which means that your kid can careen about in perfect safety.

There is some room for improvement where the height settings are concerned, and the fold-up functionality – initially designed for easy transport and storage – also leaves something to be desired, but if you’re looking for an affordable and engaging walker that your child can use to grow and develop, this one certainly ticks most of the boxes.

Features

Unique dinosaur activity tray and toys

Removable, machine washable seat

Suitable for babies up to 28lbs

Anti-slip stair pads for extra safety

Pros

An engaging and stimulating walker, featuring unique toys

An incredibly safe option, with a lot of added features to keep your little one safe

Durable and robust design

Cons

The height presets are quite far apart, and your baby may outgrow this walker quite quickly as a result

The fold-up functionality doesn’t always work properly and you may find this walker unfolding in your hands

Only the front two wheels turn, which can make maneuvering a frustrating experience for your baby

The perfect product for little monsters of any gender, this walker comes in two distinct colorways and it also boasts an engaging assortment of tactile toys for your baby to play with.

It’s not, admittedly, the most robust walker that we reviewed; it’s fairly light and it’s not made of the sturdiest materials, but we’re confident that it’s strong enough to protect your child from harm and it’s also much easier for young children to maneuver as a result.

This walker is very easy to adjust too. Where most models adjust via the legs, this particular design uses a handy zipper on the seat to change your baby’s sitting position, which is much simpler, and much less time-consuming for tired parents to use.

All in all, we’d say that this was an ideal walker for young babies between 2 and 5 months old. At this age, they’ll love the fun and friendly design, the toys and the increased maneuverability, but any older than this and you might find that they’re too tall for the fairly low maximum height setting.

This is probably the most maneuverable walker that we reviewed. It’s quite unusual in that all four of its wheels swivel – making it very easy for your child to turn corners, or move around large objects. As such, this walker is probably one of the most satisfying options for slightly older babies, who are developed enough to want to roam.

Slightly more developed babies are more likely to enjoy this walker’s unique styling and functionality too. Where most models opt for bright colors and engaging toys, this sleek and sophisticated walker is designed to look like a proper grown-up car, and all of the interactive elements are geared towards sustaining this illusion; from the working turn signals to the feedback-friendly steering wheel.

This is a sturdy and strong walker too, with three height settings and anti-slip stair pads for added protection. Its lowest height setting is quite high though, and it’s quite bulky, which means younger babies may struggle to move it around.

A great choice for anyone looking for a truly versatile walker, this model is actually a ride-on toy, a walker and a seperate, interactive learning pad all rolled into one design. It’s suitable for babies of any age, which is a huge plus, and it has functionality to match any stage of development too – whether your baby is ready to cruise around the living room on their own two feet, or just wants to lie down and play with the brightly colored buttons.

This model also boasts a whole host of different safety features, including unique speed-control functionality that allows you to set the turn rate of the back wheels. If you’re looking for a product that will grow alongside your child, this is probably the perfect pick.

The interactive elements are great too – they’re particularly focused on introducing your baby to different letters, vehicles and sounds, which is ideal if you want your baby’s cognitive abilities to grow. There’s also some tactile elements for aiding in the development of fine motor control too.

Features

3-way transformation functionality, to suit children of any age

Unique, wheel-lock safety technology

Unique interactive control pad featuring lights, sounds and buttons

Suitable for babies up to the age of 12 months

Volume controls

Pros

Ideal if you want a toy that will grow with your child

The sounds, lights and buttons make for a stimulating experience

The safety features make it very trustworthy and reliable

Cons

This is not the sturdiest walker on our list. In fact, it is a relatively flimsy design

Construction requires screwdrivers and batteries.

This walker does not provide as much support or protection as a modern walker

A traditional design that’s designed for slightly older children than the other Vtech product on our list, this chunky, fun and engaging walker is definitely harder to use than most. It’s also much more engaging than a great many of the designs we reviewed though, and it has the added advantage of letting your child see what they’re doing with their legs.

Since most babies learn via visual stimuli, the ability to see their legs working can really help them to hone their fine motor control, and there is a substantial body of evidence that more traditional ‘sit to stand’ designs are actually the best when it comes to helping your little one take their first steps.

The interactive buttons are also sure to appeal to slightly more developed babies – where most walkers feature interactive elements designed for stimulation, this model actually features piano buttons and shape sorting toys designed to encourage creativity in the long-term. Your child will require more supervision when using this walker, but the advantages are substantial.

Features

Traditional sit to stand design

An array of 60+ noises, sounds and songs

Interactive display

Unique wheel locks to control speed

Suitable for children up to 12 months.

Pros

A fantastic locomotive aide, ideal for helping older babies to walk

The buttons, lights and sounds make for a really stimulating experience

The safety features make this one of the safer sit to stand walkers on today’s market

Cons

Not as safe, or reliable as a modern walker

Primarily plastic construction means that it is slightly less rugged than other items on this list

The Chicco Talky Baby Walker is a premium model that’s not too dissimilar from the Joovy Spoon Walker that we reviewed at the beginning of this guide. The main focus of this particular model is the interactive functionality, which centers around helping your baby to develop their linguistic abilities.

There are also some impressive safety features though, and the whole unit is incredibly sturdy and robust. Its main structure is an immaculately well-built steel frame, and all the plastics are chunky, hard-touch pieces that are obviously designed with longevity in mind. Like most Chico products, you can expect this walker to last, irrespective of the punishment that’s thrown at it

Parents will love the volume controls too – although some do complain that it’s actually quite quiet, and if you live in a bilingual household you’ll be thrilled at the different options on offer. Fair warning though – this product is quite hard to build, and you can expect construction times to be on the long side.

Thanks to its wide base, chunky wheels and lightweight frame, this modern walker is fantastically easy to use, and you can expect your child to be zooming around in it in no time. There’s a lot to love about the activity tray that comes with this walker too – it features a great many tactile elements which are ideal for helping young hands to develop, and there’s a lot to stimulate young minds too.

This is a nice safe walker too – it’s all but impossible to tip it over, and the seat is fully adjustable which means that your child will always be able to reach the ground. The only slight downside? This walker is predominantly made of plastic, which means it is slightly less durable than some of the other walkers that we’ve reviewed here.

That said, if you’re looking for a slightly more affordable walker that can grow with your child, and provide hours of entertainment, this particular product is well worth a look.

This traditional baby walker is everything you could want from an authentic child’s toy; it’s sturdy and well-built, boasting a wooden frame and special rubberized wheels that provide grip on any surface. It also features a really unique interactive element that’s sure to delight young minds.

This walker is also great if you want your child to become comfortable with the idea of being upright at their own pace – it allows them full control, and provides them with a safe framework to start exploring the world around them.

The downside is, of course, the lack of safety features and conveniences found in most modern walkers – there are no anti-slip stair pads, wheel locks or speed controls. There are also no flashing lights or sounds, which may make it unsuitable for very young babies, with a short attention span. This is a premium product though, and it’s well worth a look if you’re keen to purchase something robust and durable.

Features

Robust, wooden frame

Grippy rubber tires

Unique play element

Sturdy handle

Suitable for children 6+ months

Pros

A wonderful traditional walker boasting a robust and durable construction

Wrap-up

As you can see from the list above, there are baby walkers to suit each and every child’s individual needs. Irrespective of whether you’re prioritizing fun, entertainment or safety, you should be able to pick the perfect model by browsing through our collection of the top 10 baby walkers. And remember, there’s no wrong choice – only you know what your child will respond too!